Birthdays, weddings, the holiday season—or even a simple get-together: Occasions for giving gifts abound. PT talked with two experts on the subject: Sherri Athay, the founder and president of Present Perfect Gift Consultants and Giftelan.com, and Alison Deyette, a lifestyle expert and founder of www.alionthego.com.

    Footwork

    "If you are planning to buy a gift that fits with the recipient's field of expertise, be extra careful," Deyette says. Don't buy a camera for your photo-buff buddy without doing some research. Read product reviews, talk to the experts at the store, or just ask him what he wants.

    Presenting the Present

    Creativity is "a great way to make gifts more memorable," says Athay. Deyette concurs: "Don't just give the bouquet of flowers in its original wrapping—buy an inexpensive vase. Dress up that bottle of wine! Add a message to the cake!"

    Bon Voyage

    What about experiential gifts, like trips? "If the experience is custom-tailored to—and enjoyed by—the recipient, it will be remembered and reflected on for years to come," Deyette says. "If the experience is shared by the giver and recipient, it brings them closer. And these gifts don't require storage or maintenance."

    The Quick Fix

    Gift cards are convenient and ubiquitous. But are they good gifts? "They are a safe choice if you are completely flummoxed," says Deyette, "but make sure the recipient will actually use it. And always throw in something else."

    生日，婚礼，节假日，或者只是一个简单的聚会：送礼的场合无处不在。PT与两个专家讨论了这个话题：一个是Present Perfect Gift Consultants and Giftelan.com 的创始者及总裁Sherri Athay，另一个是生活时尚专家以及www.alionthego.com的创始者Alison Deyette。

    策划

    Deyette说，“如果你打算买一件合行家口味的礼物，就要格外小心”。如果没有做点调查，不要给你的摄影爱好者朋友买相机。看看产品评论，在卖场与专家多交流，或直接问他想要哪款。

    送礼

    创造力就是“让礼物更难忘的伟大旅途”，Athay如是说。同时，Deyette也认为：“不要把还包着花店包装纸的花直接送人—哪怕买个一般的花瓶也好。给葡萄酒做点包装。在蛋糕上写点什么！”

    一路顺风

    经验赠言怎么样，例如旅行经验？Deyette说，“如果这种经验专为受赠人量身定制且为受赠人所喜欢，这种礼物就会被人铭记于心，甚至在未来几年内还会让人回味无穷。”“如果送礼人和受赠者共同分享这种经验，则能让双方更亲密。而且，这些礼物无需储存也不用保养。”

    速成法

    礼品卡是最便捷的也是最普遍的。但是，礼品卡真的是很好的礼物吗？Deyette认为，“如果你十分彷徨，礼品卡就是最稳妥的选择，但是务必确认受礼人真的会用这些卡片。通常情况下，这些礼品卡都被随便夹在其他东西里。”